Citizen is a column that explains how the government’s policies fucks citizens and how we can unfuck ourselves.


On Wednesday, Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari inaugurated the steering committee to oversee Nigeria’s new Agenda 2050 and the Medium-Term National Development Plan (MTNDP).

But where have we heard this before?

The Guardian says that this new agenda is borne out of the fact that Nigeria cannot meet its objectives of becoming one of the 20 most developed economies in the world, as stated in the Vision 20:2020.

But of course we couldn’t. How could we, when the plans were not strictly followed?

This new agenda plans to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty within the next ten years, considering that the UN estimates that Nigeria will be the 3rd most populous country by 2050, with a population of over 400 million people.

The president also noted that it had become important to create new plans to the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan, and the Vision 20:2020, all of which lapse this December.

But here’s the thing. Nigeria has still failed to achieve any of the goals set out in its development plans, so what’s the point in proposing another?

The Economic Recovery and Growth Plan stated that Nigeria would have a 7% Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth by 2020, but the country is clearly headed for an economic reduction in 2020 — as we outlined here.

The Vision 20:2020 also outlined that Nigeria will be one of the 20 most industrialised countries by 2020, but as at today we’re very far off that line.

Rather than implement new agendas, all we simply want (if I can speak for Nigerians) is that the government shows real, actual commitment towards implementing programs. Talk is cheap. We need the political will to do the work.

So, again, we ask. How will we actually lift 100 million people out of poverty 2050?

*Radio Silence*

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